Monday, September 30, 2013

The U.S. is one of the only countries in the world that still allows this ingredient in the food supply. It is banned as a food additive in Europe, and if you get caught using it in Singapore you can get up to 15 years in prison and be fined $450,000.

Forget the flu
shot. A soup based on more than 50 cloves of garlic, onions, thyme and
lemon will destroy almost any virus that enters its path including
colds, flu and even norovirus.

As we sneeze
and cough our way through these dark months of contagious nasties,
garlic is being hailed for its powers to halt viruses in their tracks.

It has gained its reputation as a virus buster thanks to one of its chemical constituents, allicin.

A recent and
significant finding from Washington State University shows that garlic
is 100 times more effective than two popular antibiotics at fighting
disease causing bacteria commonly responsible for foodborne illness.

When the
garlic is crushed, alliin becomes allicin. Research shows that allicin
helps lower cholesterol and blood pressure and also helps prevents blood
clots. Garlic can also reduce the risk of developing atherosclerosis
(hardening of the arteries). Compounds in this familiar bulb kill many
organisms, including bacteria and viruses that cause earaches, flu and
colds.

Research
indicates that garlic is also effective against digestive ailments and
diarrhea. What’s more, further studies suggest that this common and
familiar herb may help prevent the onset of cancers.

All vaccines should be avoided, but for those on the fence and still deciding whether to vaccinate your child, please review the following information on these 5 vaccines before blindly following the advice of any medical doctor. Knowledge is power and when you understand the uselessness of specific vaccines, the decision to vaccinate or not becomes a very easy one.

When it comes to vaccines, there are three levels of understanding: 1) The first group understands that all vaccines are useless; 2) The second group is still partially affected by medical propaganda from the last century and insists there are at least some “good” vaccines; and 3) The last group has a total blind loyalty to what has been erroneously declared as “vaccine science” and will defend all vaccines regardless of any resources or evidence that presents the contrary.

These are the three groups I run into daily whether they are members of the community, colleagues, parents, family members or simply people online. I’m sure you can easily situate yourself in at least one of these three groupings. I use specific techniques to deal with each group when communicating information as each can only go down the rabbit hole so far. For obvious reasons, the third group is by far the most difficult to convey any information to since they live in this bubble of disbelief when it comes to any concept that deals with anti-vaccination.

This article is specifically for groups 2) and 3). Most of my readers belong to the first group, however many are in the second group as well, which is perfectly understandable. However, as many of you know, I am not a fan of those that sit on the fence when it comes to vaccination, so my goal is always to increase awareness and bring those in level 3) back to level 2) and eventually those in level 2) back to level 1). For some it takes three days and others three years, but regardless of the information presented, any advancement in understanding does not occur until each person is ready to openly receive and embrace the information.

In the vast
pharmacopeia of illegal street drugs, few have as heinous a reputation
as desomorphine, popularly known as crocodile or “krokodil.” An opiate
that’s chemically related to morphine and heroin, krokodil earned its
name in two ways: Addicts develop dark, scaly lesions on their skin, and
the drug tends to eat its victims alive, like a crocodile.

Krokodil
first surfaced in Russia several years ago, where users discovered the
drug was much cheaper than heroin and could easily be cooked in a
kitchen by combining codeine with gasoline, oil, alcohol or paint
thinner, Fox News reports.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is currently in the process of trying to ram through passage of a new “modernization” rule for conventional poultry production that would eliminate a large percentage of USDA inspectors and speed up the factory production process. And existing safeguards, as minimally effective as they currently are, would also be eroded, allowing for more hidden feces, pus, bacteria and chemical contaminants to persist in conventional chicken and turkey meat.

Even though salmonella rates as detected in meat and poultry have been steadily dropping year after year in the U.S., roughly the same numbers of people seem to be getting infected with the pathogen annually. The primary reason for this statistical anomaly appears to be that the current testing methods authorized by the USDA for meat and poultry are wholly inadequate and outdated and actually cover up the presence of contaminants borne on factory farms and in processing plants.

Polyunsaturated
fatty acids are essential nutrients for humans. They are structural and
functional components of cell membranes and pre-stages of the hormonally
and immunologically active eicosanoids. Recent discoveries have shown
that the long-chained omega-3 fatty acids eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA)
and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) also play an important role in the
central nervous system. They are essential for normal brain functioning
including attention and other neuropsychological skills.

In our
large observational study we monitored 810 children from 5 to 12 years
of age referred for medical help and recommended for consuming
polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) in combination with zinc and
magnesium by a physician over a period of at least 3 months. The food
supplement ESPRICO® (further on referred to as the food supplement) is
developed on the basis of current nutritional science and containing a
combination of omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as magnesium and
zinc. Study objective was to evaluate the nutritional effects of the
PUFA-zinc-magnesium combination onsymptoms of attention deficit,
impulsivity, and hyperactivity as well as on emotional problems and
sleep related parameters. Assessment was performed by internationally
standardized evaluation scales, i.e. SNAP-IV and SDQ. Tolerance (adverse
events) and acceptance (compliance) of the dietary therapy were
documented.

Friday, September 27, 2013

Magnesium deficiency is often misdiagnosed because it does not show up in blood tests – only 1% of the body’s magnesium is stored in the blood.

Most doctors and laboratories don’t even include magnesium status in routine blood tests. Thus, most doctors don’t know when their patients are deficient in magnesium, even though studies show that the majority of Americans are deficient in magnesium.

Consider Dr. Norman Shealy’s statements, “Every known illness is associated with a magnesium deficiency” and that, “magnesium is the most critical mineral required for electrical stability of every cell in the body. A magnesium deficiency may be responsible for more diseases than any other nutrient.” The truth he states exposes a gapping hole in modern medicine that explains a good deal about iatrogenic death and disease. Because magnesium deficiency is largely overlooked, millions of Americans suffer needlessly or are having their symptoms treated with expensive drugs when they could be cured with magnesium supplementation.

One has to recognize the signs of magnesium thirst or hunger on their own since allopathic medicine is lost in this regard. It is really something much more subtle then hunger or thirst but it is comparable. In a world though where doctors and patients alike do not even pay attention to thirst and important issues of hydration, it is not hopeful that we will find many recognizing and paying attention to magnesium thirst and hunger, which is a dramatic way of expressing the concept of magnesium deficiency.

Most
doctors and laboratories don’t even include magnesium status in routine
blood tests. Thus, most doctors don’t know when their patients are
deficient in magnesium, even though studies show that the majority of
Americans are deficient in magnesium.

We don’t have to live in a medicated world, but we certainly choose to. The crux of the matter is that we refuse to proactively think about prevention because we reactively commit to treating the symptoms of underlying health problems. This is the allopathic model. We want the quick fix so we can continue our poor lifestyle and dietary habits. It doesn’t have to be this way, but it is. We can blame doctors, the medical institutions and healthcare systems all we want, but self-responsibility is our only recourse if we are ever to surface from this mess. There are no excuses–if you’re taking one of these drugs, consult with a Natural Health Practitioner this week about phasing out your medication and phasing in these powerful natural foods and remedies.

Of the over 4 billion prescriptions written every year, the United States and Canada make up more than 80% of the world’s prescription opioids (psychoactive medications). Between 1997 and 2012 prescription opioids increased in dosage by almost 500%. Pharmaceuticals and medical errors are now a leading cause of death. Painkillers are the leading cause of accidental death.

In the last 15 years of life, people are experiencing more pain for longer periods than at any point on our historical record. If you think life expectancy has increased to the benefit of mankind, you’re not looking at the numbers.

78% of U.S. prescriptions written in 2010 were for generic drugs (both unbranded and those still sold under a brand name). The most prescribed drugs aren’t always the best selling drugs, there’s a difference.

Prescriptions for pain, cholesterol reduction, high blood pressure, hypothyroidism, antacids, antipsychotics, diabetes and antibiotics make up 100% of the most prescribed drugs.

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

The next time you experience a cold or the flu, remember this: rather than take conventional drugs to suppress uncomfortable symptoms, it’s better for your health to allow the cold or flu to run its course while you get plenty of physical and emotional rest.

Conventional medicine and the pharmaceutical industry would have you believe that there is no “cure” for the common cold, that you should protect yourself against the flu with a vaccine that is laden with toxic chemicals, and that during the midst of a cold or flu, it is favorable to ease your discomfort with a variety of medications that can suppress your symptoms.

Unfortunately, all three of these positions indicate a lack of understanding of what colds and flus really are, and what they do for your body.

Colds and flus are caused by viruses. So to understand what colds and flus do at a cellular level, you have to understand what viruses do at a cellular level.

Do you remember learning about cellular division in grade seven science class? Each of your cells are called parent cells, and through processes of genetic duplication (mitosis) and cellular division (cytokinesis), each of your parent cells divides into two daughter cells. Each daughter cell is then considered a parent cell that will divide into two more daughter cells, and so on.

Viruses are different from your cells in that they cannot duplicate themselves through mitosis and cytokinesis. Viruses are nothing but microscopic particles of genetic material, each coated by a thin layer of protein.

During nearly 19 years of clinical practice I have had the
opportunity to observe the health effects of drinking different types of
water. Most of you would agree that drinking unfiltered tap water could
be hazardous to your health because of things like:

parasites

chlorine

fluoride

dioxins

Many health fanatics, however, are often surprised to hear me say that drinking distilled water on a regular, daily basis is potentially dangerous.

Paavo Airola wrote about the dangers of distilled water in the 1970′s when it first became a fad with the health food crowd.

Distillation is the process in which water is boiled, evaporated and
the vapour condensed. Distilled water is free of dissolved minerals and,
because of this, has the special property of being able to actively
absorb toxic substances from the body and eliminate them. Studies
validate the benefits of drinking distilled water when one is seeking to
cleanse or detoxify the system for short periods of time (a few weeks
at a time).

Fasting using distilled water can be dangerous because of the
rapid loss of electrolytes (sodium, potassium, chloride) and trace
minerals like magnesium, deficiencies of which can cause heart beat
irregularities and high blood pressure. Cooking foods in distilled water
pulls the minerals out of them and lowers their nutrient value.

Monday, September 23, 2013

A palliative nurse recorded the most common regrets of the dying and
put her findings into a book called ‘The Top Five Regrets of The Dying.’
It’s not surprising to see what made the list as they are all things
that touch each of our lives as we struggle to pay attention to and make
time for things that we truly love. Below is the list of each regret
along with an excerpt from the book. At the bottom is also a link to
the book for anyone interested in checking it out.

One thing on regret before we get to the list. It’s important to
remember that whatever stage we are at in life, there is no need for
regret. The process of regret is one that provides nothing but suffering
for ourselves as we begin to allow the past to dictate how we should
feel now. Instead, we can use the past as a reference point to
understand what adjustments we would like to make moving forward. The
adjustments do not have to come out of pain, sorrow, regret or judgment,
but simply a choice to do things in a different way. We are learning
all the time, we can very quickly slow that learning process down by
getting stuck in the idea of regret. When it comes to making changes, be
at peace with the past and remember that each moment is a new choice.

1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me.

“This was the most common regret of all. When people realise that
their life is almost over and look back clearly on it, it is easy to see
how many dreams have gone unfulfilled. Most people had not honoured
even a half of their dreams and had to die knowing that it was due to
choices they had made, or not made. Health brings a freedom very few
realise, until they no longer have it.”

A groundbreaking
new study published in the current issue of the Journal of Hematology
& Thromboembolic Diseases reveals the potential “leukemogenic”
properties of the Bt toxin biopesticides engineered into the vast
majority of GMO food crops already within the US food supply.

Last September, the causal link between cancer and genetically
modified food was confirmed in a French study, the first independent
long-term animal feeding study not commissioned by the biotech
corporations themselves. The disturbing details can be found here: New Study Finds GM Corn and Roundup Causes Cancer In Rats

Now, a new study published in the Journal of Hematology & Thromboembolic Diseases
indicates that the biopesticides engineered into GM crops known as
Bacillus Thuringensis (Bt) or Cry-toxins, may also contribute to blood
abnormalities from anemia to hematological malignancies (blood cancers)
such as leukemia.[i]

Friday, September 20, 2013

Perhaps the biggest health myth today is the public’s misconception
that mainstream medicine and the healthcare system helps sick people.
Nothing could be further from the truth.

The freedom of people to choose natural healing, alternative medicine
and methods of disease prevention could soon be threatened by corporate
lobbyists who will do anything to protect their wealth at the expense
of your health.

Promoters of conventional medicine claim that all the drug studies,
approvals, surgical procedures, all other treatments are based on
scientific evidence. But is it really science? What passes for “science”
today is a collection of health myths, half-truths, intellectual
dishonesty and fraudulent reporting to help serve higher interests. Science is not really science anymore.

90 percent of all diseases (cancer, diabetes, depression, heart
disease, etc.) are easily preventable through diet, nutrition, sunlight
and exercise. None of these solutions are ever promoted by conventional
medicine because they make no money.

No pharmaceuticals actually cure or resolve the underlying causes of
disease. Even “successful” drugs only manage symptoms, usually at the
cost of interfering with other physiological functions that will cause
side effects down the road. There is no such thing as a drug without a
side effect.

There is no financial incentive for anyone in today’s system of
medicine (drug companies, hospitals, doctors, etc.) to actually make
patients well. Profits are found in continued sickness, not wellness or
prevention.

Almost all the “prevention” programs you see today (such as free
mammograms or other screening programs) are nothing more than patient
recruitment schemes designed to increase revenue and sickness.

Nobody has any interest in your health except you. No corporation, no
doctor, and no government has any desire to actually make you well.
This has served the short-term financial interests of higher powers in
the west very well. The only healthy, aware, critically thinking
individuals are all 100% free of pharmaceuticals and processed foods.

While coconut oil has dragged itself out of the muck of vast
misrepresentation over the past few years, it still rarely gets the
appreciation it truly deserves. Not just a “good” saturated fat,
coconut oil is an exceptional healing agent as well, with loads of
useful health applications.

Fat-burning: Ironic, isn’t it? A saturated fat which
can accelerate the loss of midsection fat (the most dangerous kind).
Well, there are now two solid, human studies showing just two
tablespoons a day (30 ml), in both men and women, is capable of reducing belly fat within 1-3 months.

Brain-Boosting: A now famous study, published in 2006 in the journal Neurobiology of Aging,
showed that the administration of medium chain triglycerides (most
plentifully found in coconut oil) in 20 subjects with Alzheimer’s
disease or mild cognitive impairment, resulted in significant increases
in ketone bodies (within only 90 minutes after treatment) associated
with measurable cognitive improvement in those with less severe
cognitive dysfunction.[i]

An updated estimate says it could be at least 210,000
patients a year, more than twice the number in a frequently quoted
Institute of Medicine report.

It seems that every time researchers estimate how often a medical
mistake contributes to a hospital patient's death, the numbers come out
worse.

In 1999, the Institute of Medicine published the famous "To Err Is
Human" report, which dropped a bombshell on the medical community by
reporting that up to 98,000 people a year die because of mistakes in
hospitals. The number was initially disputed, but is now widely accepted
by doctors and hospital officials 2014 and quoted ubiquitously in the
media.

In 2010, the Office of Inspector General for Health and Human Services
said that bad hospital care contributed to the deaths of 180,000
patients in Medicare alone in a given year.

Now comes a study in the current issue of the Journal of Patient Safety that says the numbers may be much higher 2014 between 210,000 and 440,000 patients each year who go to the hospital for care suffer some type of preventable harm that contributes to their death, the study says.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Adding hemp to
your diet is an excellent way to regulate a proper omega 3 and 6 ratio.
One tablespoon of hempseed oil or 1 ounce of shelled hempseed per day
supplies roughly 6,600 mg of omega-6 and 2,200 mg of omega-3s, which is
the right amount required for a 2,000- calorie diet.

Although
Coconut oil lacks a substantial amount of omega-3′s it is very low in
omega-6′s at only 500 mg per ounce. This proves to be the king amongst
cooking oils not to mention its many other uses.

Flaxseed is a highly recommended tool to regain the balance of a
western diet. The overall omega-6 to omega-3 ratio of flaxseeds and
flaxseed oil is about .25:1. This means that if like many processed food
gorging Americans your ratio is a deathly 50:1 flaxseed is a great
choice to regain balance. CAUTION! Diets high in flaxseed should only be
used as a temporary fix. Eating excessive flaxseed every day without
appropriate omega-6 intake will eventually lead to omega-6 deficiency.

Chia seeds posses an incredible 4.9 grams of omega-3′s per ounce. The
omega-6 to omega-3 ratio is about .33:1. This is another great
supplement to regain omega-3 balance but remember not to overdo it. Once
a balanced ratio is achieved a few servings of flaxseeds and chia seeds
a week with proper omega-6 intake is a healthy choice.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Nature provides us with a bounty of time-tested remedies. Tea tree
oil has been used by aboriginal Australians for centuries to treat
coughs and colds and as a topical treatment for wounds and skin
conditions.

Tea tree oil is made from the leaves of the tea tree (Melaleuca alternifolia)
which is native to Australia. Scientific inquiry has found that tea
tree oil has a number of beneficial properties including antiviral,
antibacterial, antifungal, and antiseptic.

Tea tree oil should never be ingested or swallowed. Most topical
treatments are diluted with an oil base or with another essential oil
such as lavender.

Here are eight ways to use tea tree oil as a natural remedy.

Colds and flu. Tea tree oil can lessen the symptoms
of colds and flu by putting a few drops in hot water and inhaling the
vapors. It also loosens chest congestion.

In a breakthrough moment of truth for the CDC, the agency now openly
admits that prescription antibiotics have led to a catastrophic rise in
superbugs, causing the death of at least 23,000 Americans each year (an estimate even the CDC calls “conservative”).

This is the conclusion of the CDC’s new Threat Report 2013,
a document that for the first time quantifies the number of fatalities
happening in America due to antibiotic-resistant superbugs.

What’s truly astonishing about this report is that it admits, in effect, that modern medicine is a failure
when it comes to infectious disease. The whole approach of fighting
bugs with isolated chemicals was doomed to fail from the start, of
course, since Mother Nature adapts to chemical threats far more quickly
than drug companies can roll out new chemicals.

Sadly, the very approach of using an isolated chemical to combat
disease is rooted in a 1950′s mentality that has nearly reached its
endpoint in the history of medicine. The CDC all but admits this now,
saying the era of antibiotics is nearing its end. “If we are not
careful, we will soon be in a post-antibiotic era” – Dr. Tom Frieden,
director of the CDC.

The admission should send alarm bells ringing across the medical
establishment. Because what it really means is the day isn’t too far off
when doctors and hospitals can no longer offer treatments for common infections.

The mainstream media and government have peddled the same lame health
concerns affecting children for decades. Whether it’s drug abuse,
smoking, teen pregnancy, obesity or any other perceived public health
threat, no officially recognized health concern affecting children
compares to the actual threats which are rarely if ever discussed by
public health entities or the mainstream media.

The reasons for this
convenient ignorance are simple…deception and distraction.
The typical diatribe coming out of government organizations who claim
to be enforcing good health and protecting our children is nonsense and
always has been. They parrot the same mundane health threats affecting
children decade after decade without actually doing anything about them
or telling us what actually causes them. They insist things like
smoking, drug abuse, obesity, teen pregnancy, bullying and abuse are the
top health concerns for children and teens when they are nothing but a
miniscule fraction of a threat compared to the following:

This oil is considered to be the best nutritional oil for health
because its essential fatty acid (EFA) profile is closest to that
required by the human body. Essential fatty acids are termed as such
because the body cannot manufacture them. Therefore, they must
continually be replenished in the diet. EFAs are not stored or used for
energy as are other fats. Instead, they are used as raw materials for
cell structure and as precursors for the synthesis of many of the body’s
vital biochemicals, including hormones and prostaglandins.

Hemp seeds are the only natural source to boast of having the ideal
ratio of EFAs required by the human body, which is roughly 3:1 of
omega-6 to omega-3, the two most important EFAs. Flax oil ranks second
as a valuable EFA source, but flax seed is not in the optimal
proportion. Rather, it has the opposite ratio – 1:3. After about two
years of regular use, flax seed can eventually cause omega-6 deficiency
symptoms.

By weight, hemp seed is 30-35% oil, of which 80% consists of
polyunsaturated EFAs, specifically the two most important ones –
linoleic acid (LA – omega-6 at 60%) and linolenic acid (LNA or ALA –
omega-3 at 20%). These are the parent compounds which build longer-chain
fatty acids. LNA then converts to DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and EPA
(eicosapentaenoic acid) – two of the most critically needed forms of EFA
and LA converts to AA (arachidonic acid), which has opposite effects of
those from DHA.

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

Dr. Natasha Campbell-McBride is a formally trained Russian neurologist whose child developed autism.
As a result of her own research into autism, she ended up developing what might be one of the most profoundly important treatment strategies not just for autism, but for a wide range of neurological-, psychological-, and autoimmune disorders as well.

I believe her Gut and Psychology Syndrome, and Gut and Physiology Syndrome (GAPS) Nutritional program is vitally important for MOST people, as the majority of people have such poor gut health due to poor diet and toxic exposures. We’ve previously discussed how the GAPS program can help those with autism and other neurological- and psychiatric disorders, such as:

You probably know that avocados are an excellent source of healthful
fats, but this whole food may also have other unique health benefits. To
learn more, the Hass Avocado Board (HAB) is supporting clinical
research to investigate various health effects of avocado consumption,
particularly its benefits for cardiovascular disease, weight management,
diabetes, and its ability to enhance your body’s absorption of
nutrients.

The first of these HAB-supported studies
was published in November 2012. The small UCLA-led pilot study found
that eating one-half of a fresh medium Hass avocado with a hamburger
(made with 90 percent lean beef) significantly inhibited the production
of the inflammatory compound Interleukin-6 (IL-6) compared to eating a
burger without fresh avocado.

According to lead author David Heber, M.D., Ph.D., the findings offer
“promising clues” about avocado’s ability to benefit vascular function
and heart health. As reported by Medical News Today:

The researchers observed a significant peak
(approximately a 70 percent increase), of IL-6 four hours after the
plain burger was eaten, but less effect on IL-6 (approximately a 40
percent increase) over the same time period when fresh avocado was eaten
with the burger.Additionally, the study found that when fresh Hass
avocado was eaten with the burger it did not increase triglyceride
levels beyond what was observed after eating the burger alone, despite
the extra calories and fat from the fresh avocado … The pilot study also
reported that the difference in peripheral arterial blood flow (the
movement of blood to different parts of the body, as measured by PAT), a
predictor of vascular health, after eating the hamburger meal compared
to the hamburger-fresh avocado meal was approaching statistical
significance.

Turmeric is one the most thoroughly researched plants in existence today. Its medicinal properties and components (primarily curcumin) have been the subject of over 5600 peer-reviewed and published biomedical studies. In fact, our five-year long research project on this sacred plant
has revealed over 600 potential preventive and therapeutic
applications, as well as 175 distinct beneficial physiological effects.

Given the sheer density of research performed on this remarkable
spice, it is no wonder that a growing number of studies have concluded
that it compares favorably to a variety of conventional medications,
including:

Lipitor/Atorvastatin(cholesterol medication): A 2008 study published in the journal Drugs in R & D found
that a standardized preparation of curcuminoids from Turmeric compared
favorably to the drug atorvastatin (trade name Lipitor) on endothelial
dysfunction, the underlying pathology of the blood vessels that drives
atherosclerosis, in association with reductions in inflammation and
oxidative stress in type 2 diabetic patients. [i] [For addition curcumin and 'high cholesterol' research – 8 abstracts].

Corticosteroids (steroid medications): A 1999 study published in the journal Phytotherapy Research found
that the primary polyphenol in turmeric, the saffron colored pigment
known as curcumin, compared favorably to steroids in the management of
chronic anterior uveitis, an inflammatory eye disease.[ii] A 2008 study published in Critical Care Medicine
found that curcumin compared favorably to the corticosteroid drug
dexamethasone in the animal model as an alternative therapy for
protecting lung transplantation-associated injury by down-regulating
inflammatory genes.[iii] An earlier 2003 study published in Cancer Letters found the same drug also compared favorably to dexamethasone in a lung ischaemia-repurfusion injury model.[iv] [for additional curcumin and inflammation research – 52 abstracts]

According to a new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "more than two million people are sickened every year with antibiotic-resistant infections, with at least 23,000 dying as a result."

Oh, and those numbers are probably too low: "The estimates are based on conservative assumptions and are likely minimum estimates."

The basic issue here is that we're using too many antibiotics — both on ourselves and our animals. The CDC doesn't mince words here:

The use of antibiotics is the single most important factor leading to antibiotic resistance around the world. Antibiotics are among the most commonly prescribed drugs used in human medicine. However, up to 50% of all the antibiotics prescribed for people are not needed or are not optimally effective as prescribed. Antibiotics are also commonly used in food animals to prevent, control, and treat disease, and to promote the growth of food-producing animals. The use of antibiotics for promoting growth is not necessary, and the practice should be phased out.

They've even got a helpful graphic showing how overuse of antibiotics leads to killer superbugs:

Vegans may have had it right all
along; while raw, organic milk offers numerous health benefits, a Harvard
researcher and pediatrician argues that conventional milk and dairy products
alike are a detriment to your health – thanks to added health-compromising
sweeteners.

The age-old saying that drinking milk is one of the keys to good
health received a strong rebuttal from Harvard pediatrician David Ludwig who argues
that dairy products with added sweeteners are a detriment to one’s health.

Harvard Scientists Urge You to Stop Drinking Sweetened-MilkDrinking reduced-fat
milk inadvertently encourages the consumption of added sugars. There have been
countless pieces of research concluding the ill effects of sugar-sweetened
beverages and the over-consumption of sugar has been tied to obesity, diabetes,
inflammatory-related pain, and much more.

Ludwig’s recommendation: less is
more, and some people might be better off drinking no milk at all.

Humans, like
cows, get all the calcium they need from a plant-based diet. If you are
concerned about daily calcium intake, there are many alternatives to milk.
Ludwig says: “we can get plenty of calcium from a whole range of foods.

On a
gram for gram basis, cooked kale has more calcium than milk. Sardines, nuts
seeds beans, green leafy vegetables are all sources of calcium.”